Payette County man is Idaho's first West Nile case this year

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BOISE, Idaho (KBOI) - A man in his 40's has been diagnosed as Idaho's first positive case of West Nile Virus this year, according to officials with Southwest District Health.

Officials say the man, from Payette County, is now hospitalized after it was determined he had encephalitis (inflammation of the brain).

“About one in 150 people infected with WNV, develop severe illness, such as encephalitis, as in this first positive case, or meningitis (inflammation of the linings of the brain and spinal cord),” said Jennifer Tripp, Program Manager for Southwest District Health in a press release.

“These more severe infections are marked by a rapid onset of a high fever, headache, neck stiffness, body aches, disorientation, and tremors.”